The term '''secular''' has taken on a variety of meanings over the years. It is mainly used to denote distance from, or lack of, [[religion]]. It does not mean [[atheism]], however.

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{{wiktionary|secular}}

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The term '''secular''' is used to distinguish non-religious things from [[religious]] ones. The thing need not be [[anti-religious]] to be secular; in fact, that would be a misleading use of the term. Instead, describing something as secular generally means it is simply unrelated to religion.

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For example, the [[Wikipedia:United States government|United States government]] is, under the [[Wikipedia:United States Constitution|Constitution]], a secular government. That does not mean the government acts against the interests of religion or the religious. On the contrary, it means that the government must remain neutral with respect to religion, to the extent possible. Furthermore, it doesn't mean that religious people cannot populate government positions. Indeed, in the U.S. most office holders are religious. But government officials cannot use their executive, legislative or judicial powers to promote one religion over another, or religion over [[irreligion]].

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==Secular vs. atheistic==

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Being secular is not the same as being atheistic. Both believers and non-believers (with respect to any particular god claim) can participate together in a secular purpose.<!-- expand... -->

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==See also==

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* [[separation of church and state]]

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* [[Lemon test]]

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[[Category:Miscellaneous terminology]]

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[[Category:Law]]

Revision as of 14:59, 15 December 2008

The term secular is used to distinguish non-religious things from religious ones. The thing need not be anti-religious to be secular; in fact, that would be a misleading use of the term. Instead, describing something as secular generally means it is simply unrelated to religion.

For example, the United States government is, under the Constitution, a secular government. That does not mean the government acts against the interests of religion or the religious. On the contrary, it means that the government must remain neutral with respect to religion, to the extent possible. Furthermore, it doesn't mean that religious people cannot populate government positions. Indeed, in the U.S. most office holders are religious. But government officials cannot use their executive, legislative or judicial powers to promote one religion over another, or religion over irreligion.

Secular vs. atheistic

Being secular is not the same as being atheistic. Both believers and non-believers (with respect to any particular god claim) can participate together in a secular purpose.